Australia’s 2009 Defence White Paper

(click to download)

Defense was an issue in the 2007 Australian election. The center-left Labor Party attacked the center-right Liberal Party by citing mismanaged projects, and accusing the Howard government of making poor choices on key defense platforms like the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Joint Strike fighters. That sniping continued even after Labor won the election, and has been evident in more than a few Defence Ministry releases.

The new government made some program changes, such as canceling the SH-2G Seasprite contract. Yet it has been more notable for the programs it has not changed: problematic upgrades of Australia’s Oliver Hazard Perry frigates were continued, the late purchase of F/A-18F Super Hornets was ratified rather than canceled, and observers waited for the real shoe to drop: the government’s promised 2009 Defence White Paper, which would lay out Australia’s long-term strategic assessments, and procurement plans.

On May 2/09, Australia’s government released “Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.” DID has reviewed that document, and the reaction to date including a new ASPI roundup of reactions from around Asia.

• Fast Incoming
  
• The Highlight Reel
  
• Additional Readings & Assessments
  

Azimuth to Research Ways to Protect Sensors from Directed Energy Threats

Space-based sensors
could be vulnerable

Azimuth Corp in Dayton, OH received a $50 million contract to conduct hardening and survivability research designed to protect sensors from directed energy threats. The contract is being awarded under the US Air Force’s Hardened Materials Research and Survivability Studies program, which is intended to study materials technologies, interactions, and/or applications to improve the survivability of military systems.

Air Force Research Laboratory Detachment 1 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio manages the contract (FA8650-09-D-5434).

A 2007 report by a US Defense Science Board task force identified the potential use of directed energy to disrupt sensors…

Standing Up the IqAF: King Air 350s

IqAF King Air 350

It has been a long road for the Iraqi Air Force. According to Iraqi figures, the IqAF boasted more than 1,000 aircraft before the 1991 Gulf war – and around 300 after it. More than 6 years after Operation Iraqi Freedom began, and 4 years after the first Iraqi Provisional government was formed, the once-mighty IqAF still operates just a handful of mostly-unarmed propeller aircraft and helicopters.

Unarmed aircraft can still offer value, of course. Surveillance is critically important to Iraq, especially surveillance of national infrastructure like telecommunications lines, pipelines, and other facilities. In addition to its Cessna “Bird Dogs” and handful of other light spotter planes, the IqAF is strengthening its fleet with an unlikely star of the Iraq War: Hawker Beechcraft’s propeller-driven King Air.

87 Squadron has begun all-Iraqi operations with the new equipment, but recent articles and announcements illustrate that there’s a lot more to fielding new equipment than just signing the contract.

Canada’s Auroras Getting Land Surveillance Capabilities

P-3/ CP-140 Aurora

Canada’s C$ 1.67 billion Aurora Incremental Modernization Project began in 1998, and is an amalgamation of 23 individual projects grouped into 4 chronologically consecutive block upgrades. Key upgrades successfully performed under the AIMP to date have included new electro-optical and infrared sensors (L-3 Communications) under Block III, and upgrades to the navigation and flight instruments (CMC Electronics) under Block II. AIMP, plus the Aurora fleet’s new long-term, performance-based maintenance program, are designed to keep Canada’s fleet flying until 2015 or so.

Canada is also pursuing land-surveillance upgrades to its fleet. Given Canada’s commitments on the ground in Afghanistan, and employment of American P-3 Orion and British Nimrod MRA2 aircraft for ground surveillance in that theater, these contracts may yet contribute to NATO’s Afghan mission.

The latest update involves deployment of the aircraft to Afghanistan on a special overland mission.

General Atomics Gets $9.8M Predator Terminal Contract

MQ-1 Predator

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems received a $9.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for Predator receiver terminals, installation, and software updates from the USAF. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, manages the contract (FA8620-05-G-3028). The receiver terminals are ruggedized laptops that are compatible with both the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper.

BAE’s Bunker Finder

“Found a bunker!”

BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions, Inc. of Washington DC received an $8.2 million contract for the ATAEM program. Their goal is to design, build and demonstrate a proof-of-concept system that can find and possibly map underground facilities from an airborne platform, using active electromagnetic techniques. At this time $2.8 million has been obligated. Det 1 of the AFRL at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH issued the contract (FA8650-08-C-7804).

British Harriers to Get Advanced Targeting Pods

Wanted: targeting pod

In September 2006, “The Major’s Email: British Harrier Support in Afghanistan, Revisited” described publicly-aired dissatisfaction with Harrier close air performance in Afghanistan. In the course of analyzing the issues raised, DID commented:

“British Harrier pilots have had difficulty identifying ground targets before; this was an issue in the 1982 Falklands War, for instance, and at least one pilot (Sqn. Leader Bob Iveson) got shot down trying. American Harrier pilots now rely on their LITENING surveillance and targeting pods to make their Harriers effective amidst the urban warfare challenges of Iraq; British Harriers use a Thales-Vinten Joint Reconnaissance Pod instead, which lacks the targeting functions and may not have been carried as integral equipment on the flights in question. In this case, as in so many others, the aircraft’s ancillary systems can be as important as the platform itself when it comes to determining battlefield performance.”

Now Britain has moved to address this exact issue, in the wake of an an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR)” request from front-line commanders in late 2006…

$6.6M to Begin Preparing Global Hawks for MP-RTIP Radars

Proteus with MP-RTIP pod

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in San Diego, CA received a $6.6 million fixed-price-incentive-firm contract modification for engineering changes to prepare one RQ-4 Global Hawk Air Vehicle to receive Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) capabilities. It also covers preliminary modifications to a second Air Vehicle in preparation for MP-RTIP insertion, and includes an option for aircraft ballast. At this time, $3.3 million have been obligated. Solicitations began October 2005, negotiations were complete November 2006, andwork will be complete by February 2009. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8620-05-C-4692/P00009).

Global Hawk Cutaway

The MP-RTIP radar is an important part of the USA’s future surveillance capabilities. This AESA radar is slated to equip future Block 40 Global Hawks, and will also feature in NATO’s AGS battlefield surveillance program and future E-8 J-STARS upgrades or successors. DID recently covered MP-RTIP testing on Rutan’s unusual-looking Proteus.

Boeing’s Solar Subsidiary Adds California Contract

solar concentrator array

DID recently covered an Australian contract to Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab for 500,000 solar concentrator cells to be used in remote areas. This was a particularly significant development given the call from combat commanders for renewable energy sources at American forward operating bases.

In-Q-Tel funded Skybuilt Power remains the front runner, and firms like Global Solar are already working with CECOM on related solar options from man-portable battery rechargers to self-powering tents. Leading defense integrator Boeing appears to have noticed the trend, however, and Spectrolab just announced another win via a 12-month contract from SolFocus, Inc. of Palo Alto, CA. Under this contract 600,000 solar concentrator cells will be built and delivered, with the goal of generating 10 MW of electricity at wholesale energy prices.

Canadian Firm Wins $100M Maritime Reconnaissance Contract from Dutch

Dash-8 in Dutch colors

In the fall of 2003, the Dutch government announced the retirement and sale of its P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft fleet, including 2 aircraft stationed at Curacao that flew missions for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Orions were sold to Germany (8) and Portugal (5), but their services needed to be replaced. Australia’s contracted public-private Coastwatch approach offers a solid model for such situations, and now similar Dash-8 aircraft with maritime patrol mission suites will be operating in the Caribbean – operated and managed by a private Canadian firm.